A/N: Hey! Listen! I made significant changes to the end of chapter 3 just before posting this. Because tktktk is a good and kind beta who helps me when I can't words good. Still don't own it.

Chapter 4

Jeff groaned as he stared at the door that she'd just slammed in his face. He'd royally fucked this up and now he'd lost Annie before he even got a chance to try and win her. He leaned in and dropped his head against the door. Now what was he supposed to do?

He was pulled out of his reverie by a hand on his shoulder. He jumped, startled by the intrusion. He looked at Craig's face, sad and sympathetic.

"Come on, Jeffrey. I'll take you home." The Dean's voice was soft and understanding.

Jeff looked from Craig to Annie...make that Annie's door, and back. "I fucked up, Craig," he raggedly whispered.

The Dean smiled sadly. "It looks that way, yes, but maybe things will be clearer in the morning. For both of you. Now come on, loverboy. It's time for us to go."

Jeff turned away from the door slowly and saw that everyone was staring at him. He closed his eyes. He couldn't even look at them right now. When Craig took his arm and led him out of the apartment, he didn't resist. He wasn't welcome here anyway.

After the door closed everyone left in the living room looked at each other in shock. Duncan was the first one to find his voice. "Well I guess I'll just say it. What. The HELL. Was that?"

Hickey jumped in before anyone else could respond. "None of our damn business. Don't get involved," He warned with a stern look around. He looked at everyone again and sighed in resignation. "Oh who am I kidding? You busybodies never leave well enough alone. Well don't even think about involving me. I'm going home." And with that he took his leave.

Shirley stared after Hickey as he stalked purposefully out of the apartment. She knew he was probably right but were they supposed to just pretend they hadn't seen anything? Not in this lifetime. Into the awkward silence she said, "Well I'm proud of our little Annie. She's had a cute little crush on that man for a long time and was still strong enough to stand up for herself. That little girl has more steel in her spine than I thought. But I agree with Buzz. It's past time for us to go. Come on Ian, I'll drop you home since you're on my way. Does anyone else need a ride?" Britta and Rachel shook their heads no and watched as Shirley hustled a still inebriated Duncan out the door.

That left Rachel, Abed, and Britta sitting in the living room. Stunned by what they'd seen. Abed was shaking his head sadly. "He made a mistake. Didn't know all the facts. Was working with outdated information."

Rachel patted his hand in sympathy. "I know. Listen. I had planned on asking you for a ride home but I think I'm just going to crash in your room. Is that okay?"

Abed nodded absently as Rachel went into his room and shut the door behind her. He looked up and saw that Britta was staring at him. "You're still here. You have something to say. What is it?"

Britta nodded insistently as she finally released the dam that had been holding her words at bay. "Abed, I think Annie still likes Jeff! Why would she turn him down like that if she likes him? It doesn't make any sense! Him I understand." She mimicked a caveman. "Jeff get drunk. Jeff want lady." She took a minute and her brows drew down in confusion. "But, why would Annie yell at him like that? You didn't see her when I told her that he and I weren't getting married. She was so obviously relieved and happy. What would make her turn him down now? What am I missing?"

Abed thought back to his conversation with Annie the day before. She hadn't told him not to tell anyone, but maybe he shouldn't say anything. Better to double check. He'd learned that Annie didn't like anyone repeating things she said in confidence. "Really couldn't say. Do you need me to call you a cab or are you sleeping on the couch?" He asked.

"Really, Abed? Really? Major drama literally just happened and you're going to bed? You don't have any theories? Come oooon," she whined. "Are you really going to just leave me here with no one to discuss this with?"

"Yes," he said. And he stood up to go to his room. Before he went in he turned again and shot a stern look at the blond on the couch. "Annie locked her door. We're not supposed to bother her if her door is locked."

Britta narrowed her eyes at him. What the hell did he know anyway? Leave her alone? Shah. That girl needed a friend right now. A friend who understood the human mind and who understood Jeff Winger. Annie clearly needed her right now. Abed just didn't get it.

Abed saw the resolution on her face. "It's one of the rules."

Britta groaned and threw up her hands dramatically. "Fine! I won't talk to her tonight. But I'm sleeping on your couch, and I'm not going to give her the silent treatment in the morning."

Abed nodded. "I accept your compromise. Good night."

Britta went to the closet and grabbed the 'guest' linens that Annie always had ready to go before stretching out on the couch. What a crazy night!

In her room Annie was curled up on her bed with a pillow clutched to her stomach. She bitterly regretted getting rid of all of her stuffies that week as a part of her resolution to put away childish things. She'd washed her face and brushed her teeth and gotten dressed for bed on autopilot. Shell-shocked by what had just happened. Jeff had thrown the three words she'd always longed to hear at her in some drunken attempt to get in her pants. He was disgusting. She should hate him.

But every time she got herself worked up to a good anger she remembered how sad and lost he'd looked when he'd asked her if she was mad at him. She sighed and hugged the pillow tighter. This was really her fault. She'd gone too far with keeping him at arm's length and he'd been too drunk to understand what was going on. He'd looked so pathetically happy when she'd assured him she wasn't mad at him.

But no! He had been gross! How dare he treat her like some pathetic groupie ready to jump in bed with a few sweet words! No. She was right to be angry. She was just thankful she hadn't been drinking all night like everyone else. "If you had been, you'd be in bed with Jeff right now instead of a crying alone in the dark," a treacherous voice in her head whispered spitefully. "Would that really have been so bad? It's what you've always wanted and you threw it in his face. And for what?" Annie grimaced. Her doubts and fears had always been particularly vicious. "For self respect," she whispered into the silent darkness of her room. "For my future."

Jeff slowly woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon. Blearily he groped for his phone and checked the time. It was only ten in the morning. Who the hell was in his kitchen? He disentangled himself from his twisted sheets and frowned when he saw he was still wearing the jeans and t-shirt he'd worn the night before.

Oh god the night before! It all came back in one big embarrassing rush and he collapsed back onto his bed. Annie had rejected him. He groaned and buried his head in his pillow. She knew he was in love with her and she hadn't cared. She'd been so cruel. He started to curl up and try to escape by going back to sleep when a stern voice called from his doorway.

"None of that, mister. You need to get up. Come on, Jeffrey. I made you breakfast! You'll feel better after you eat something."

The Dean's voice was just about the last thing he'd expected to hear and the surprise of it made him forget his misery for a moment. He lifted his head and threw the smaller man a confused look. "Craig? What the hell are you doing here?"

The Dean gave a sympathetic smile. "Well after last night's little show I figured you'd need a good listener this morning, and I'm a very good listener."

"No," Jeff clarified. "I mean how the hell did you get into my apartment?"

"Ohh that." Craig said. "Well I did drive you home last night and since I couldn't lock the door without your keys I just kept them with me! Nothing to concern yourself with. Now come on. Up and at 'em! I made breakfast and it's getting cold."

With a final huff Jeff got out of bed and followed the Dean out of his bedroom and wow that's not a thought he ever imagined he'd have. Shaking his head in bemusement he sat down on one of the stools at the breakfast bar. Glancing around he saw that Craig had made a full breakfast spread. There was a giant egg-white omelet, fruit, a mountain of bacon, and most welcome of all a steaming mug of coffee. He took a sip and looked at the other man in surprise. "This is perfect...eerily perfect... How did you know I take my coffee with cinnamon and three splenda?"

The Dean turned away and said, "Nevermind that right now, Jeffrey. You need to eat away that hangover. Now don't be shy." He put his hand to the side of his mouth as if he were telling a secret, "I've already had my morning smoothie. So eat whatever you want."

"Okay I get how you got in but why are you here? Why are you doing this?"

Craig gave him an understanding nod. "Jeffrey I like to think that we're friends. And friends support each other. From what I saw last night it seems like you could use a little support. That's all."

Nodding absently, still unsure what exactly was happening. Jeff loaded up his plate and took a bite of the surprisingly delicious omelet. His appetite hit him quickly and with a full mouth he said, "This is really good."

The Dean gave him an indulgent smile and waved off the compliment. "It was no bother. Now you finish that all up and take a shower. No offense, Jeffrey, but you smell like a tequila distillery."

After a shower and with a full stomach Jeff really did feel much better physically. Of course without his physical misery to distract him he focused on the colossal ass he'd made of himself the previous night. He padded into the living room and fell into his favorite chair. The Dean was sitting on the couch and there was another cup of coffee on the end table by Jeff's elbow. Taking a sip he stared blankly at the Dean.

"Are you ready to talk?" Craig asked gently. "Because I'm ready to listen."

"What is there to talk about?" Jeff asked bitterly. Ugh why bother to deny it? Everyone had watched him get rejected. It's not like it was a secret. "Turns out Annie isn't interested in me. Seems pretty clear. No need to go over all the gory details."

"Jeffrey. I don't think things are as bad as all that. Now why don't you tell me what happened between the two of you?" Craig was gentle but insistent.

With a sigh Jeff put the coffee down and ran his hands over his face. "Umm well? Okay. Some of it's a bit fuzzy because, you know, tequila. But basically I was talking to Annie because she'd been acting like she was mad at me all night. I just wanted to see if I had done something to make her angry. Because we were supposed to be friends."

Jeff realized he never had found out what Annie's deal had been. Her odd behavior had been overshadowed by him being a jackass. But he was still worried. Annie meant everything to him and he hated the thought that she was troubled by something. He hated those little lines between her eyebrows whenever she was worried or stressed. He always wanted to smooth them away.

He remembered his train of thought and continued. "And then my dumb drunk mouth ran away from me. I must have let it slip that I wanted to be more than friends with her. Cause one minute she was being sweet and telling me we were okay and the next she was mad as hell." He looked at Craig ruefully. "Truthfully that part's a little fuzzy."

He gave a sad smile and took a sip of coffee before continuing. "The next thing I remember is her telling me she knew how I felt about her and wasn't interested. I got a little desperate and told her that I loved her." Jeff groaned in mortification. "God I can't believe I told her that! Umm then I tried to get her to let me in her room to talk and that's when she threw me out."

"See now that's the part I don't really understand. Why would you tell her you loved her?" Craig's face was perfectly innocent.

Jeff closed his eyes in defeat. He picked up his mug and mumbled into it, "BecauseI'minlovewithher."

"I'm sorry, Jeffrey. I didn't catch that last bit?" Craig was having a very hard time hiding his smile but years of working in Academia had taught him how to conceal his amusement at people who were trying to hide things from him.

Jeff glared at the man on his couch. What was Craig's deal, anyway? Why was he being so insistent? Oh yeah. Because they were supposed to be friends. And really, if he were being honest. They were friends. He sighed and spoke more clearly. "Because I'm in love with her."

"Oh Jeffrey. You sure made a mess of things, didn't you?" Craig asked.

"Hey!" Jeff argued. "Aren't you supposed to be making me feel better right now? Friend? How about a little support?"

"Fine," Craig retorted. "Jeff, I think Annie is a bitch"

Jeff saw red. How dare he say that about her! "Hey! This is my fault! Not hers!" He was interrupted by Craig's soft chuckles. Oh. "Point taken. I don't hate her and I don't want you to either. Are you happy now?" Jeff asked sarcastically.

"Not yet," Craig responded enigmatically. "But we're not talking about me. We're talking about you. What else do you remember about last night?"

Jeff thought about it for a minute. He remembered how she'd looked up at him when she assured him they were okay. Before he screwed everything up. How they'd fit together so perfectly which shouldn't be possible given how short she was but didn't make it any less perfect. He remembered watching her laugh at something Hickey had said and thinking to himself that he wanted to hear her laugh more often.

He remembered her telling a story about something that had happened to her and Abed at the farmer's market and smiling because she was way too excited about blueberries and how he wanted to make sure she always had blueberries around since she loved them so much.

"That's pretty much it. Wait. I was worried that she was mad at me before I ever got there. We hadn't talked in a week when she texted to invite everyone over and she seemed not to care whether I would be able to make it or not. I got there early to try to talk to her but she was busy making dinner and when I offered to help she put me to work and went out to sit by the grill. Then you got there. I tried all night to find a chance to talk to her but she didn't give me a chance."

Jeff took another sip of coffee while he tried to recall everything. "So when we were watching the movie and Ian and Britta were pushing shots, I figured since I wasn't going to get to talk to her anyway there was no need to stay sober."

"Well," Craig said. "We know where at least one mistake was made last night then."

Jeff pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes at the Dean. "Yeah. Thanks. Figured that one out for myself."

Craig only gave that infuriating little laugh again. Like he knew something Jeff didn't which was impossible so he was just being an ass. "Okay Jeffrey. Let me ask you this. Are you giving up on Annie, then?"

Jeff thought about that. "Uhh I don't think you get it, Craig. She was very clear that she isn't interested in me and that she wants him to stay away from her."

"That's not what I asked you. I asked if you are giving up." Craig reminded him. "Do you want to give up on Annie? Do you not want to be with her anymore? You claim to be in love with her but it seems like you're giving up pretty quickly. Is this not that important to you, then?"

Oh. Huh. "I guess I didn't think there was any point since I gave her my heart and she punted it out the window...but to answer your question, no. No, I don't want to give up. I'm in love with her and I know that if she gave me a chance we could make each other happy." Like, a forever kind of happy. But Jeff wasn't ready to tell anyone about that.

The Dean smiled broadly at that. "Excellent! That's what I wanted to hear! I'll admit I was a little worried when Jeff Winger was going to give up without a fight. Thought maybe I didn't know you at all! But since you're still in the fight I have a few things to say to you. And you really need to listen because I'm dropping pearls of wisdom here, okay?" Craig looked at him expectantly. Clearly expecting a response.

"Sure." Jeff said in a flat tone.

"Okay! First. You said you talked to her and she had assured you that you two were okay before something made her angry, right? Well, Drunky McSkunky, I bet you said something that made her mad."

Jeff rolled his eyes. "Maybe? Probably? I don't know."

"Moving on," Craig said with a wave of his hand. "And Jeffrey this is the important one. Prior to last night had you ever given Annie any indication that you had actual romantic feelings for her? I'm not talking about the cutesy caper, flirting junk. I mean have the two of you ever gone on a date or had an actual serious conversation about your feelings?"

Jeff blushed a little at that. "Well, no. Not actually. I mean yeah kinda. Once. It was years ago. She put me on the spot and asked me if I wanted her or not."

"Mmhmm. And what did you say to her?" Craig asked, fully embodying his new role as therapist. It was like Britta 2.0.

Ugh. Truth. "I hedged. Didn't answer the question. She got mad and left."

"Jeffrey, did you love her then?"

"That's hard to say. Yes, I loved her. No, I didn't realize it."

Craig interrupted him, "Didn't realize it? Jeffrey when, exactly, did you realize you were in love with Annie?"

Jeff shifted uncomfortably in his chair and looked down at his lap before speaking hesitantly. "It was umm last week. When we were in that computer lab."

The Dean shot Jeff a disappointed glare but the other man didn't see. "Let me do the math here, hmm? So last night was the first time you'd actually talked to Annie since you realized you were in love with her? And then you got drunk? And THEN you told her you loved her? Jeffrey no wonder she got mad at you. Try to look at it from her perspective!"

"I know!" Jeff yelled! "I screwed up, okay? Is that what you want to hear? Yes. Jeff Winger screwed up. With a woman. With THE woman. There. I admit it. Let's all point and laugh at Jeff making an ass out of himself. Hahaha it's so friggin funny look at the loser!"

But Craig had no sympathy for the man before him. "Feel better? Hmm? Or do you still want to wallow in this for a bit. I can come back in a few days if you want."

"Can it, Craig." Jeff snarled. "You're not subtle. I see what you're doing here."

"Oh?" The Dean asked with a quirked eyebrow. "And what is that exactly?"

Jeff rolled his eyes. Fine. "You're pointing out to me that this is all my fault. Thanks for that by the way. I had NO idea until you-"

"Focus, Jeffrey!" The Dean interrupted. "Yes, yes, you screwed up. We get it. Well news flash. You're not the first man to screw up with a woman and you won't be the last. No, what's important now is what are you going to do about it? You said you weren't ready to give up on her yet. So, mister smartypants. What's your plan?"